FOR 10 years, Carol Barton’s dream of a wheelchair accessible community bus for Kerang and district has never wavered.
Her dream became reality yesterday morning, when volunteers gathered at the Bus Stop Recycle Shop to await the arrival of an 11 seat, dual-wheelchair mini-bus.
Most nervous and excited of all was Mrs Barton, who paced the concrete in front of the Nolan Street shop, waiting to see the bus for the first time.
Upon its eventual arrival, the bus was mobbed by volunteers, who explored its every nook and cranny and rejoiced in the tangible outcome of their epic fund-raising effort.
That effort was started in 2007 by Mrs Barton, who had long considered there was a need for local wheelchair transport, with the closest wheelchair taxis located at Swan Hill and Echuca.
A committee was formed and $10,000 was raised before the recovery from the 2010/11 floods drew away the attention of volunteers.
But on May 28, 2015, fund-raising recommenced in earnest with the opening of the Bus Stop Recycle Shop.
The new shop thrived under the guiding hand of Mrs Barton, who was well versed in such a venture after 12 years managing the Rita Hall Opportunity Shop in support of Kerang District Health.
“We set a target of $100,000 to pay for the bus and we really had no idea how long it would take because we started with nothing – just an empty building,” Mrs Barton said.
“In November we reached our target and now, 19 months after we opened, we’ve got the bus, which is just unbelievable.”
Mrs Barton’s vision has been shared by many, with the shop operated by a roster of 40 volunteers.
“We have so many wonderful volunteers and the support from the community has been incredible,” she said.
The bus will be stored at the home of one of the volunteers before a more permanent site is secured, with a bus sub-committee to be established.
Mrs Barton said the sub-committee would decide on appropriate hiring costs for the bus.
“But it’s expected that the committee will cover the cost of use around town and there will be a small cost for longer trips,” she said.
“It won’t be astronomical because we want the community to use the bus as much as possible.”
And with one dream realised, Mrs Barton wasted no time in announcing another, declaring the shop would begin fund-raising for a small car with one wheelchair berth.
